ARTICLES ABOUT FEES BY DATE - PAGE 3

The city of Plantation might get a new community center in the near future. The Plantation Council recently gave approval to a plan to spend $2.1 million on a new community center to replace the old one demolished last year in Kennedy Park. The council had two choices from the project's architect: a 10,620-square-foot building that would have cost $1.8 million plus $200,000 in design fees, or the $2.1 million option that, plus the same design fees, would build a 12,500-square-foot building.

Palm Beach County trash fees are going up a little under the Solid Waste Authority's $283 million proposed budget, which received initial approval Wednesday. County commissioners OK'd a $1-a-year increase for homeowners' trash disposal fees. Also, curbside collection costs are getting a 1.12 percent, inflation-driven boost. The countywide annual disposal fee of $174 for single-family homes would go up to $175 in a move that would raise about $1 million more for the authority.

Friday the 13th is a perfect day for scary movies ... and free kitties at the Humane Society of Broward. The shelter is waiving the adoption fee for all of its lucky felines on Friday. All pets are micro-chipped and spayed or neutered before going home. You'll also get a cardboard cat carrier for your new kitty to go home in. The shelter is at 2070 Griffin Road, one block west of Interstate 95. For information, go to HumaneBroward.com or call 954-989-3977. sbryan@tribune.com or 954-356-4554

Airline trade groups are fuming over the proposal that they disclose fees customers have to pay, complaining that the government does not tell hotels, computer makers and rental car companies how they should sell their products. I don't see why airlines should have to report the cost of bags, and whether they are typically on time or not, as long as doctors do not have to disclose up front the cost of an office visit or an operation. E. Gunnar Tarnow, Fair Lawn, N.J.

Downtown residents won't have to worry about parking their cars on flooded streets tonight. They will be able to park for free at two city-owned parking garages located downtown. Because of street level flooding in downtown Hollywood, the city is waiving parking fees in the garages at 20th and Van Buren Street and 19th Avenue and Tyler Street. Additional rainfall is expected through the early evening hours, according to the National Weather Service. Motorists are advised to use caution and to avoid traveling on flooded streets.

Lauderhill, which is trying hard to acquire a business-friendly image, has taken another step in that direction. At a recent meeting, officials voted 3-1 to give the City Manager the authority to waive or modify building-permit fees up to $30,000, which is the limit of his/her purchasing authority, to promote economic development. Currently, the City Manager has the authority to waive fees, but only for city projects and in certain other cases where there is an emergency or demonstrated hardship.

The dominant airlines at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport all reported higher revenue in the fourth quarter, according to federal data released Monday. JetBlue reported $1.4 billion in revenue, up from $1.2 billion a year earlier; Southwest $4.4 billion, up from $4.1 billion; and Spirit $420 million, up from $328 billion. At JetBlue and Spirit, the increases came partly from higher fee revenue. JetBlue's baggage-fee revenue jumped to $19 million from $17.5 million, and reservations/change fees rose to $38.6 million from $33 million.

Another carrier is embracing the airfare unbundling strategy popularized by low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines. Starting Monday, Frontier Airlines said it's changing the way it charges customers for carry-on bags, checked bags and seat assignments. In turn, it's also lowering its cheapest economy fares on every nonstop route by an average of 12 percent, the Denver-based, low-fare carrier said. With the unbundling strategy, passengers purchasing an Economy fare will have to pay extra for carry on bags that don't fit under the seat and for other extra items.

Airlines are fighting a requirement that they include U.S. taxes and fees in their advertised fares. Without hearings or debate, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved a bill this month that would let carriers resume their former practice of most prominently featuring base fares, rather than the total price. Taxes, baggage fees and other costs that can make up a substantial portion of what consumers pay can be displayed through links or pop-ups.

The $60-a-day parking rate at the Broward County Courthouse will come under scrutiny Tuesday as commissioners discuss whether it should be reduced. Broward Commissioner Marty Kiar said he thinks the parking rate at the juror-public garage just east of the courthouse is too high. The Sun Sentinel reported last week that the $8-an-hour garage is the costliest public parking in the county, and the most expensive government-owned courthouse parking in South Florida. The topic is on the Broward County Commission agenda for discussion Tuesday, at Kiar's request.